Welcome to another blog update - i've managed to steal a friends laptop for a few minutes in order to make a post, so here it goes!
So, I'm writing at the end of 'day 2', as far as the official week is concerned. This means we've done 2 days following a timetable, and we're pretty much into routine now which is good news. Recently the group have been given all sorts of talks, basically going through all of the paper work and legal stuff, which to be honest, was pretty boring in parts, but similarly it was incredibly interesting learning about how YWAM and Reef to Outback started out etc. Furthermore, our leaders have gone over our course in full detail. That, mixed with various lecture-style talks, have wet our appetite for the real lectures which will start on monday. All in all, everything has gone well so far - and the future is filled with optimism, with all of the students and staff eagerly looking forward to the months to come!
I'd also like to take the time to quickly share something that happened on monday morning, which i hope will encourage you all! By sunday, i had developed a slight feeling of being overwhelmed by the whole experience of being here. At the same time, i was feeling quite frustrated by how long it was taking for the course to start. Including the jetlag and being in new surroundings far from home (not to mention the Devil taking every opportunity to bring us down) resulted in me feeling quite stressed out and having a pretty rough night's sleep!
On Monday morning i decided to make the effort to do a decent quiet time, and God really spoke through his word as i read it, and this really encouraged me! (I might write what i learnt in a separate post, but for now i'll move on...) This encouraging quiet time helped to improve my mood but hadn't quite fixed it altogether. Later that morning, everyone on the YWAM base met together for worship and intercession in the large auditorium; and what happened was amazing. I took some time out to thank God for speaking to me during my quiet time, and just as i finished, a course leader who didn't really know me, felt driven by God to share a word given to him, for me. He told me that God knew how i felt, and wanted to remind me of what Paul wrote to the Philippians (the first chapter of the letter), about how God will bring to completion the good work that he started in me. God has brought me to this place, for this time, for a purpose. God was telling me to chill out and relax, because He had designated this time to take place, and i needed to trust in his sovereignty, and his grace, to fulfill his promises to me and transform me through this DTS - all this would happen in God's time, not mine.
If you know me well you know my story-telling habbits, sorry about the length. Anyway, it was awesome to see God at work on the opening days of my DTS, and i was hugely encouraged and blessed by how He had spoken to me when i really needed it!
Anyway it's time for me to go. One final thing i wanted to say was this: i've recently found out that, due to the full-on timetable we have here during the lecture phase, i wont be able to keep in touch as much as i was first hoping. Obviously i will have afternoons where i can fit in skype calls and various messages; however keeping in touch with you all personally is something i cannot do (and i really wanted to, believe me!). So yeah, I'm gonna try my hardest to stay in touch as best i can, but don't expect too much. Keep checking this blog for my most regular updates.
I'm constantly thinking and praying about all of my family and friends, I'm missing you all quite a lot (just to reassure some of you that i haven't completely forgotten about you!) Anyway, it's been a pleasure having your attention and thank you for reading my blog - take care of yourselves, and God bless you.
Much love and blessings, Matt.
Pray for: adjusting back to a timetable-based school life / commitment to quiet times / determination to hear from God
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